WATCH: India cricketer Irfan Pathan hugs Pakistan’s Shoaib Malik at…, video goes viral

Amid ongoing tension between India and Pakistan over cricket, a moment of sportsmanship was seen in Saudi Arabia. After the F2 Double Wicket match at the World Cricket Festival, Pakistan’s veteran all-rounder Shoaib Malik and former Indian fast bowler Irfan Pathan were seen hugging each other. This moment is quickly going viral on social media.

On Thursday, Pakistan defeated India in the match played at King Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah. In the highlights released after the game, players from both teams were seen shaking hands, giving high-fives and smiling. During this, the meeting between Shoaib Malik and Irfan Pathan became the main talking point. This scene was completely opposite to the recent India-Pak cricket tensions.

When did this moment happen?

This moment comes at a time when tensions between India and Pakistan over cricket have been visible in recent months. In the 2025 ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav did not shake hands with Pakistani captain Salman Ali Aga. The tension was seen throughout the tournament, from the group stage to the Super-4 stage and the final.

The tension increased when India refused to play against Pakistan in the second season of the World Championship of Legends (WCL). India not only skipped facing Pakistan in the group stage but also refused to play them in the semifinals.

Where is the video?

What happened in the match?

Talking about the match, Pakistan batted first and lost 4 wickets for 56 runs in 4 overs. Shoaib Malik played aggressively and scored 34 runs, while Imran Nazir added 16 runs. In reply, the Indian team managed only 51 runs for 4 wickets and fell short of the target. This was Pakistan’s third consecutive win in the tournament, after victories over UAE and Sri Lankan Lions.